Manila, Jan. 22 -- The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a writ of habeas data petition filed by detained Senator Leila de Lima in 2016 against President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a 22-page resolution dated Oct. 15, 2019 and made public Wednesday, the SC, through then Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, said President Duterte is immune from suit as the tribunal turned down de Lima's claim that the presidential privilege is not automatic and must first be invoked by the Chief Executive before it takes effect.
"It will be impossible for the Court to enable her cause of action to be established without first determining whether or not said laws, which carry penal sanctions, had been violated," the High Court said in dismissing de Lima's petition.
The co...